I'm surely happy that a zoo visitor may learn something she or he didn't previously know, but if they don't use this information in a meaningful way to do something for the animals, then it's knowledge for knowledge's sake and that is not a sufficient reason for keeping animals in cages.

An increasing number of people see zoos themselves as inherently problematic, and argue that even the best-funded, most conservation-minded institutions in which animals are kept on display should go the way of the dodo.

Even in our highly unnatural cities, the very human desire to connect with nature has also given rise to countless parks and gardens. When we think of green space in New York City, where I live and work, our mind goes first to Central Park and the New York Botanical Gardens.

If you're feeling sad for you and your kids and the many delightful hours you spent watching Gus in his plate glass cell, take a moment to mourn the life he lead for your enjoyment. And then celebrate that he is finally free.

Snakes get a bad rap for being ugly and slimy, but they play a crucial role in maintaining the health of our planet. If you've got a budding herpetologist in your family, visit one of these six serpentariums.

One of the great joys of a spring vacation is the chance to meet all the new arrivals born at zoos and aquariums around the country. Here's where to find most irresistible babies running -- and swinging, and swimming -- around this spring.